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God this was just. So poignant. So accurate. I think this is such a true way of looking at a post traumatic life, and I really appreciated this comic. I especially related to panels 11 and 12. They are things I have thought before many times.

i can’t relate to the exact scenario in this comic, but i can definitely relate to the feeling of looking at my past self as a whole other person, trying to push traumatic memories out of my head… really beautiful work, girls ♥

i think it takes a lot of courage to say the word “no.” that’s why it should be respected. because although most reported rape incidents happen because the other person forces him/herself onto the other, i feel like it could also happen from lack of communication. that’s what i saw from this comic, because she seemed so unsure. it reminded me of this article i read of this married woman who had sex multiple times with her own husband, and still felt uncomfortable just because she was a virgin for such a long time and sex in general became something she could not enjoy. when the husband found out, he was mortified, especially as someone who considered himself a feminist and would not dare to make a woman feel that way had he been aware of it.

and thus I am thankful of California for not no means no, but yes means yes.

Phew, did you hear that thump? Your story just hit the pits of my stomach, and hard. Wow. Thank you for sharing your heartache, and I genuinely hope the release helped you, because you just helped every single reader that has experienced something at all similar today (actually, virtually any reader).

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Rookie is an online magazine and book series for teenagers. Each month, a different editorial theme drives the writing, photography, and artwork that we publish. Learn more about us here, and find out how to submit your work here!